The Osher Rainforest is a magnificent 4-story structure that houses about 1600 animals. 250 of those are birds and butterflies. The rainforest is 90 feet (about 27 meters) in diameter. The temperature is kept at 82-85 degrees (28-29c) and humidity at 75% or more. Inside, four different rainforests are represented. There is Borneo, Costa Rica, Madagascar and the flooded portion represents the Amazon.

You enter the dome and follow the gently sloping circular pathway around and up. Inside, we saw lush greenery, free flying birds, and lots of butterfies. Once at the top, we took a glass elevator back down through the dome and below the flooded forest where we walked through a tunnel with piranhas swimming overhead. It’s an amazing exhibit. Here are some of our photos.

Please try to visit the California Academy of Sciences if you have the chance. If you visit the rainforest, be sure to watch out for hitchhikers on the way out as the butterflies occasionally try to hitch a ride to freedom.

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California Academy of Sciences part 2: Traipsing Through the Trees — 4 Comments

i really really need a trip to SF now that hubby’s so bummed about not getting the promotion he wanted. he wants to go to NOLA but i’m lobbying for SF. nice train ride, short bus ride, great public transportation, an excellent friend to meet, what could be better?

Thank you. We also have redwood forests nearby. Depending on when you come and how much time you have, we could take you to see them. Should you decide to come, email me about hotels first. Not all of them are in good neighborhoods.

Is that grass and solar panels on the roof? Looks and sonuds like a fantastic place! I can happily get lost in there for a week! I’m in awe at the university’s buildings too huge! Someone spammed two weeks worth of my posts yesterday and I had to delete all of them. Inconvenient, to say the least. At least it wasn’t porn. 😉